Electroplating process



N v, PARK. ELECTROPLATING PROCESS..

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1921.

Patented July 25, 192 2.

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gmehtoz @UNI'TEVISTATES NELSON V. PARK, OF NILES,' MICHIGAN.

ELE CTROPLATING PROCESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed'July 6, 1921. Serial No. 482,769.

. tain new and useful Improvements in Electroplating Processes; and

.' composition of the plating metal and its i provide a process. whichmay be practiced- I do hereby declarethat the following is a full,clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to improvemnts in electrof-plati ng byaqueous bath having for an obj'ect, the provision of a novel processfor. effecting the rapid detransfer to the receiving body without lossesof the same and without the addition of metals in chemical form with theelectrolyte,

It is also an object of the invention to at a cost materially less thanthat required by such methods or processes of electroplating heretoforeknown in the art, and also, to permit of electroplating in an effi cientmanner in materially less time than that heretofore required.

i said cell electrical conductors 8 and 4, the

Other objects will be in part obvious and in 'art pointed outhereinafter.

' 11 order thatthe invention and its mode of application may be readilyunderstood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanyingillustrative drawings and in the detailed following description basedthereon, set forth one embodiment of the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view, partly diagrammatic, showing the manner inwhichmy improved electro plating process is practiced; and,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail in cross section through the airinjecting pipe.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection withwhich like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts,in practicing my improved process, I employ the usual electro-platlngcell 1, placing therein an electrolyte 0r plating bath 2 and leadinginto conductor 3 constituting the positive side of the source of energyto whlch'said conductors are connected (not shown) while the conductor 4constitutes the negative "sidethereof.

v An anode 5 composed of the metalbtobe. transferred in the platingprocessisfsups ported by means of as-uitable hook- 6 upon the positivewire 3-while a cathode 7 or: the article or body which is to receiye theplat ing metal from the anode is likewise. sup.- ported as at 8 upon thencgativefirire 4:; said anode and cathode, of cojnrse, being immersed.in the electrolyte 25 p A blower 9 or other sui'tablei source of air isarranged at one side of the electroplating cell 1 and has connectionwith the adjacent end of a tubular elongated nozzle 10, which, aswill=be noted, is formed on its lower side with a plurality of orificesll varying in diameterpas clearly shown :in the Figure 2. It isdesirable that then'oz-. zle 1O occupy as much space as it is possiblein the bottom of the electro-plating cell 1 and in this connection, itma be here noted, that if desirable, said nozz e may be provided withlateral branches or other forms of extensions, such as conditions orpreference may dictate, but not herein respect to the elongated nozzle10 issuch as to cause the directing of currents of air varying inpressure downwardly towards the bottom of said electroplating cell 1'whereby this air introduced into the electrolyte 2 will be diffused andcaused to thoroughly agitate the electrolyte as a body in order that thesame will constantly circulate by the anode 5 and the cathode 7.

In practicing the process, current is set up in the positive andnegative wires 4, from a suitable source, not shown, causing electrochemical action as between the anode and the cathode 5 and 7respectively. This electro-chemical action} results in the decompositionof metal on the anode 5 and by trolyte 2, such decomposed metal will beimmediately washed from the anode and transferred through the medium ofthe electrolyte to .the cathode or receiving body 7 By injecting 'allinto the electrolyte 2 through the medium of the nozzle 10 with itsorifices 11 of varying diameters or sizes, it will be understood thatthe plating bath will be agitated within the cell 1 and duringdecomposition of metal upon the anode 5,

.will' immediately wash the same therefrom which amount is ample for thecathode.

Also, due tothe constant washing of the anode by the electrolyte, I amenabled to practically eliminate the forming of nonsolvent substances,hence. requiring the use of but a small portion of chemical agents, incomparison to the amount now used in prevalent methods or processes.Furthermore, by constantly washing the anode the same will bepractically free from' any insulatingsubstances and because of this, itwill be understood that the current set up in the wires 3 and 4 may bematerially reduced and yet obtain practical results.

The amount of pressure of air injected into the electrolyte 2, ofcourse, is to becommensurate with the requirements of the work or matterto be plated. and as heretofore stated. by being directed downwardlyfrom the nozzle will serve to maintain the electrolyte in a state ofconstant agitation without violently disturbing the same in such amanner as to cause its displacement.-

To prevent the overloading of the electrolyte with the plating metalwhich would result in its precipitation to the bottom of the cell, themetal anode 5 is removed from the electrolyte at intervals and replacedby an anode of carbon, thus allowing the amount of plating metal in thebath to be regulated to prevent waste of the same.

' I claim:

1. The herein described process of electroplating which consists inintroducing downwardly directed currents of air differing in pressure bymeans of.-a nozzle having openings of various diameters therein into anelectrolyte containing cell having airanode and a cathode elementimmersed therein whereby the currents of air will agitate theelectrolyte and effect the continuous washing of metal from the anodefor transfer to the cathode.

2. The herein described process of electroplating which consists inintroducing downwardly directed currents of air differing in pressureinto an electrolyte containing cell haying an anode formed of theplating metal and a cathode element. immersed therein whereby thecurrents of air will agitate the electrolyte and effect the continuouswashing of metal from the anode for transfer to the cathode, andreplacing said metal anode, at intervals, with-an anode of carbon.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

NELSON V. PARK.

